No winner yet in kicking derby, Harbaugh likes what he’s seen from Akers’ practices

Coach Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday that kicker David Akers has responded well to the challenge posed by free-agent signee Billy Cundiff.

Just the same, Harbaugh isn’t ready to announce which kicker he intends to use against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Candlestick Park on Saturday night.

“So far, so good,” Harbaugh said of Akers’ performance in four practices within the past week. “He’s had a very good week; this week and last week.”

Akers revealed that he underwent surgery for a double sports hernia in February, soon after the 49ers were eliminated from the NFC Playoffs by the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game at Candlestick Park.

Akers said the injury flared up on him in November after he slipped on a kick-off. That prompted him to receive injections to calm down irritation in the affected area.

Akers said last week that his health is fine and that he won’t need any surgery after this season. His accuracy issues on field-goal attempts this season – he converted 29 of 42 – have nothing to do with his health.

“I go off of what David says,” Harbaugh said, in having confidence that Akers is ready to go if called upon.

Cundiff and Akers said that they haven’t been told when a decision will be made on who is going to kick against the Packers.

It’s “conceivable,” Harbaugh said, that both kickers will be among the 46 players activated for Saturday’s game, assuming both still are on the 53-man roster.

Cundiff last kicked in a game Oct. 7, when he was with the Washington Redskins. He got waived soon after that game and worked out for seven teams before he signed with the 49ers last week.